Colts defeat 49ers, 27-7

We expected the more physical team with the game’s most dynamic big, strong, athletic quarterback to win in San Francisco on Sunday. It just wasn’t the 49ers.

The Colts came in and stunned the reigning NFC champions, 27-7. They did so by giving the 49ers a dose of the hosts’ own smashmouth medicine. In other words, quarterback Andrew Luck and offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton out-Stanforded Jim Harbaugh and Vic Fangio. And in other news, Luck also scored a big one for traditional quarterbacks by thoroughly outplaying the zone-readless Colin Kaepernick.

Andrew Luck has an extra weapon now with running back Trent Richardson. That will only expedite his progress. (AP photo)

When the Colts made the trade with Cleveland to acquire running back Trent Richardson earlier in the week, it was a sign of their commitment to old-school power football. It was on full display, even with their new toy making more of a cameo.

Richardson (13 carries for 35) wasn’t quite up to speed to handle a big load. But his first TD as a Colt to open the scoring set the tone, and both Luck and holdover back Ahmad Bradshaw took it from there. While Luck stood in, took his licks and got the tough passing yards that were there, Bradshaw ran with purpose and his blockers forced the issue against a tough 49ers front. It was only fitting Luck and Bradshaw slammed the door with back-to-back TD runs late in the fourth quarter.

Luck didn’t just outrush Kaepernick, 24-20, but he was mentally tougher and sharper, more poised in and out of the pocket. He avoided the mistakes San Francisco’s defense tends to force. The Colts’ additional offensive attitude carried over to their defense, which smacked around the league’s best front and Kaepernick in a package deal.

For the second straight week, the Niners got pushed around, and couldn’t push back enough to get out of it. At the moment, they’re caught between being a dominant power running team and a downfield passing team, and without the real threat of the read option, Kaepernick is just left to fold.

The Colts, meanwhile, have discovered who they are: an extension of a hardnosed Stanford Cardinal who won a whole lot of games with Luck. Unlike the Niners, they’re running the college offense that has a much better track record in the pros.

Harbaugh, Kaepernick and the 49ers just got schooled, and at 1-2, they’ve got a lot of homework to do.